Display stand for frozen food and the like



Aug. 31, 1954 R. ROBBINS I DISPLAY STAND FOR FROZEN FOOD AND THE LIKEFiled larch l5, 1952 II 7 g 3 r 2 3 f z a, 4 m 0 1 2 w 0401 n n o 0 o 2o o M A 0 e 6 0 0 o o n 7 0 w m 1 AW 3 INVENTOR. Bal 1h Bobbins f1TTORNE Y.

Patented Aug. 31 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DISPLAY STAND FORFROZEN FOOD AND THE LIKE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in displayand advertising devices, being specifically designed for displayingfrozen foods, beverages, and the like in stores, in self-servicesections of super-markets, and in other places frequented by prospectivepurchasers.

One object of the present invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter described which will provide a continuous cooling of thedisplayed articles independently of electrically or mechanicallyoperated stationary cooling installations and fixtures, so that thisdevice can be placed temporarily or permanently into any section of astore or the like.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a device ofthe character described which has its cooling medium normally hidden bythe merchanidse contained in the device, so that the merchandise appearsas being displayed in an ordinary container or basket, free from anycooling machinery, and which consequently will cause an element ofsurprise and produce a pleasing impression of freshness when beingtouched or more closely scrutinized by prospective purchasers, thustending to stimulate a desire to partake of the articles so displayed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a deviceof the character described which is light in weight and collapsible, sothat it can be easily stored when not in use or transported from placeto place, which is of a pleasing outer appearance, and which is simplein construction, so that it can be manufactured and sold at a veryreasonable price, but which is also sturdy, durable and well adapted towithstand the rough usage to which devices of this type frequently aresubjected.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully describedand pointed out in the claim, it being understood that changes may bemade in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing fromthe spirit of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing a preferred form of the invention has beenshown.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation; and

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

2 Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

In the drawing the numerals 2 and 4 denote a pair of inverted U-shapedmembers each of which has a longitudinal web portion 3 and a pair ofdownwardly extending flange portions 5 which intermediate their ends 1are pivotally connected to the flange portions of the other U-shapedmember so that said U-shaped'members constitute a collapsible scissorsstand. Longitudinal hook members 6 engage with their upper portions theweb portions of the members 2 and 4, and are attached to the inner sidesof opposite side portions of an open wire basket 8, to which the lowerends ll! of the hook mem-- bers 6 are pivoted or otherwise secured. Aprimarily flat bag or envelope member l2, having double bottom and sidewall portions encompassing the outer sides of the bottom and side wallportions of the basket 8, has its edge sections ll extended over theupper edges of the basket 8 and into the same, as may be seen in Figs. 1and 3. Portions of the hook members 8 which extend into the basket 8overlay the edge sections Id of the envelope member I2 without piercingthe same. Any suitable heat and cold insulation, such as fibre glass orthe like is placed between the double walls of the envelo l2. A pair ofcasings I6, which has perforated side walls and which are provided withremovable covers l8, are placed into the basket 8 and are preferably inspaced relation to each other as well as the two opposite side wallportions of the basket 8.

While the top of the device can be left open, or can be closed with anysuitable, preferably transparent lid, I prefer to provide the open topof the basket 8 with a transparent inwardly and upwardly inclined frameor lid member consisting of trapezoid-shaped transparent plates 20 ofplastic material, such as Lucite or the like, whose ends are joined toeach other by means of angle bars 22 or the like. This arrangement willprevent the merchandise (not shown) piled up in the basket 8 andcovering the casings l6, from falling out of the device, and it alsowill tend to prevent to a certain extent a radiation of the coolnessemanating from Dry Ice 28 or from any other suitable cooling mediaplaced into the casings l8 and separated by the latter from saidmerchandise.

The flange portions of the member 2 are pivoted at 24 to the flangeportions of the member 4, so that the framework can be collapsed afterthe removal of the basket 8 therefrom.

Since certain changes may be made in the above article and differentembodiments of the invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted asillustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the followin claims are intended tocover=all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which as amatter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

Having thus fully described my said invention, What I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is: l

A display stand for frozen food and the like comprising a pair ofinverted U-shaped members each of which has a longitudinal web portionand a pair of downwardly extending flange portions whichintermediatetheir ends are pivotally connected to the flange portions ofthe other U-shaped member so that said U-shaped members constitute acollapsible scissors stand, a wire basket interposed between the webportions of said U-shaped members having bottom and side wall portionsand being open at its top, an envelope member having double bottom andside wall portions encompassing the outer sides of the bottom and sidewall portions of said basket and extending over the upper edges of saidbasket into the interior thereof, hooks engaging the web portions ofsaid U-shaped members being secured to the inner sides of opposite sidewall portions of said basket and extending outwardly over the upperportions thereof, heat and cold insulating material being interposedbetween the double bottom and side wall portions of said envelopemember, a pair of longitudinal casings each having a bottom andperforated side walls being provided in said basket and in spacedrelation to each other as well as to opposite side wall portions of thebasket and being adapted for containing a refrigerating substance andfor separating the same from articles placed into said basket, and atransparent inwardly and upwardly inclined frame attached to the opentop portions of said basket being removably placed upon the same.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 307,299 Hare Oct. 28, 1884 712,921 Florang Nov. 4, 19021,904,795 McFarland Apr. 18, 193 3 2,518,134 Fredenhagen Aug. 8, 1950

